Baybay City String Ensemble

12/05/2026

A Standing Ovation for our Ate's!

​History has a way of repeating its best notes. Today, we aren't just celebrating academic success; we are celebrating a milestone for the heartbeat of our ensemble.

A ​huge congratulations to the Founding Members of the Baybay City String Orchestra who have officially added a new title to their repertoire: Licensed Professional Teacher (LPT)!

To our pioneers, you’ve spent years perfecting your and mastering scores. Now, you take that same dedication, discipline, and harmony into the classroom. You’ve proven that you can balance the rigors of the board exams with the precision of the bow.

This isn't just a "Grand Finale" for your student years, but it’s a powerful opening movement for us all. Here’s why:
* Legacy: As founding members, you built the foundation of our orchestra. Now, you’ll build the foundations of our youth’s future.
* Artistry: You bring the soul of a musician to the noble profession of teaching.
* Leadership: You’ve moved from following the conductor’s baton to leading your own sections, and now, your own students.

The entire Baybay City String Orchestra family is beaming with pride. We can’t wait to see the "symphony" of impact you’ll create in the lives of your students.

10/05/2026

Happy Mother’s Day to our Orchestra Moms!
Today, we celebrate the incredible women who make the music possible, not just the talented musicians on stage, but the dedicated mothers standing firmly behind them.

* To our Mentors: Thank you for your wisdom and for nurturing the next generation of musicians with a mother’s patience and a teacher’s soul.

* ​To our orchestra members who are mothers: your ability to balance the artistry of music with the beautiful complexities of motherhood is nothing short of inspiring. You bring a unique grace and strength to our ensemble.

* ​To our supportive stage mothers: you are the heartbeat of the Baybay City String Orchestra. From the long hours of practice at home and the logistics of rehearsals to the unwavering encouragement from the front row, your devotion is the foundation of every performance. We see your hard work, your sacrifices, and the pride in your eyes—and we are so grateful for it.

​Thank you for nurturing the talent, the discipline, and the passion that keeps our music alive.

​Happy Mother’s Day! 🎻🌸

30/04/2026

The Baybay City String Orchestra was born from the LGU's Baybay City School for the Arts Violin class, under the dedicated mentorship of Associate Professor Joselle Cayetano. Its members include children, youth, and adults alike, all united by a shared passion for classical music.

​The group evolved into a full string orchestra through the British Council’s Connection Through Culture grant—a landmark collaboration between the Nottingham Chamber Music Festival (UK), UP Arco of the University of the Philippines College of Music, and the Visayas State University-Institute of Human Kinetics BCAED Program.

​In the recently concluded 102nd VSU Anniversary Convocation, the orchestra performed two British works from the Baroque and 20th-century eras, as well as two elementary pieces designed for children and young beginners. The program includes:
* Excerpt from the Capriol Suite: "Basse-Danse"
by Peter Warlock
*​ "Rondeau" from The Fairy Queen
by Henry Purcell
*​ "Allegro" from the Suzuki Violin Method, Book 1
by Shinichi Suzuki
*​ Pilak Namumulaklak
by Prof. Edna Marcil Michi Martinez

P.S.
Special Thanks to the hardworking section leaders
Concertmaster: Krystelle Mhay Simila
Principal Violin 1: Florian Blaise Du
Principal Violin 2: Ivy Collene Yangyang
Principal Violin 3: Donalyn Lombog Taotao
Principal Violist: Yu-Jen Mhae Beltran Bantilan
Principal Cellists: Zia Loise Cruz and;
Joshua Abenoja

30/04/2026

"Practice like there is always an upcoming performance."

~Sir Joselle Cayetano

Harmony in the Making

"The woods would be very silent if no birds sang there except those that sang best."

— Henry van D**e

Behind every grand performance is a symphony of "imperfections" being polished into excellence. As the Baybay City String Orchestra gears up for the VSU 102nd Anniversary Convocation, the rehearsal hall a.k.a the IHK Conference Room and Quadrangle is anything but silent.

The Behind-the-Scenes Grind
It isn't just about the final bow; it’s about the hours of discipline that get us there:
The Sectionals: Hours spent refining the transition between a crescendo and a diminuendo until the dynamics feel like a single breath.
The Tuning: Finding common ground among dozens of strings, ensuring every note resonates with the history of VSU.
The Community: Reminding ourselves that every player—whether a seasoned lead or a developing talent—is a vital voice in this musical "forest."

Why We Play
Van D**e’s words remind us that music belongs to everyone. We don't play because we are perfect; we play because we have a story to tell. For the VSU 102nd Anniversary, our music is a tribute to a century of growth, resilience, and the collective voice of our community. Let the music speak for the years gone by and the many more to come.

19/04/2026

Afternoon Melodies with Baybay City String Orchestra Junior members at BCSA

​There’s nothing quite like the sound of strings filling the Baybay City School for the Arts lobby. This afternoon, our Junior Members took center stage for a focused rehearsal session that was as much about looking back as it was about moving forward. The afternoon session was led by our artistic director Prof. Joselle Cayetano and assisted by Florian Blaise Du and Elgin ィCebreros (Violin 1 Senior members)

​A Trip Down Memory Lane
​Instead of diving straight into new scores, today was all about review and mastery. The group spent the afternoon revisiting our repertoire of past songs, refining the nuances that make these pieces special.

​Precision & Polish: Going back to familiar notes allowed the juniors to focus on their bowing techniques and dynamic control.

​Building Confidence: There's a visible shift in energy when the students play songs they’ve grown to love—it’s where the music truly starts to breathe.

​The Lobby Acoustic: The open space of the BCSA lobby provided the perfect backdrop, letting every vibrato and staccato ring out clearly.
​
Looking Ahead
​It is inspiring to see these young musicians honor the music they've already learned while sharpening their skills for what's next. Every rehearsal is a reminder that excellence isn't just about learning something new, it's about perfecting what we've already built together.

📷: Rovelyn Cruz

11/04/2026

Well deserved recognition to our Founder and Artistic Director Prof. Joselle Cayetano. He is now part of the PASUC-NCAF national pool of adjudicators. A trailblazer in the field of Music for Baybay City. Together with our dear maestro is another member of the group, Kuya Elgin ィ ۦۦ Cebreros (violin 1) representing Region 8 for charcoal rendering and a very talented and dedicated member of the group. You Made Every Baybayanon Artists Proud!

| National Culture and the Arts Festival 2026✨

We take immense pride in our faculty members, student, and alumnus who are representing us at the 2026 National Culture and the Arts Festival (NCAF), hosted by West Visayas State University in Iloilo.

Prof. Joselle R. Cayetano, BCAED Program Director, serves as one of this year’s distinguished National Adjudicators.

Instructors Christian N. Bacolod and Carl John Paul C. Abergido stand as coaches to Mr. Kobe T. Juanillo, who proudly represents Region VIII in Mr. PASUC 2026, with Josua D. Del Socorro, BCAED alumnus, as the creative visionary behind his Regional Attire.

Meanwhile, Mr. Elgin Cebreros, a BCAED sophomore and student-artist, will showcase his talent in the Charcoal Rendering Competition.

IHK continues to be a formidable force in artistic expression, creative performance, and cultural preservation endeavors;bringing Eastern Visayas to the national stage and beyond.

31/03/2026

Happy Birthday to our one and only
Maestro Joselle Cayetano

Today, we celebrate The Man, The Myth, The Legend, the visionary whose dedication and passion singlehandedly and painstakingly brought the Baybay City String Orchestra to life. Your leadership has not only shaped melodies but has built a home for artistry and excellence to our children, youth and citizens in our city.

Thank you for your commitment to the teaching of classical stringed instruments, your unwavering mentorship, and for proving that great things start with a single, bold vision. May your day be filled with the same harmony and inspiration you give to everyone around you.

Cheers to many more years of music, milestones, and making history! 🎻✨

10/03/2026

Last Sunday The Baybay City String Ensemble members had their lessons in the Baybay City School for the Arts glasssroom overlooking the picturesque Roman coloseum inspired facade of the Binaybayon Sports Complex.

02/03/2026

FROM THE STAGE TO THE SIDELINES: To the members of the Baybay City String Orchestra serving as Coaches and Technical Working Group.

As you trade your bows and instruments for whistles and clipboards at EVRAA 2026, remember that the same dedication that makes our music soar is exactly what makes a great coach and technical official.
​Whether you are officiating a match or mentoring an athlete, you are bringing the harmony, timing, and excellence of the BCSO to the sporting arena. We are incredibly proud to see you serving our region in this new capacity.
​Strike the right chord, keep the tempo steady, and let’s make this event a masterpiece!
​Go Baybay City!

02/03/2026

To the talented members of the Baybay City String Orchestra competing in the different sporting events of EVRAA 2026:
It is a rare and impressive feat to see a group member that masters both the precision of the bow and the intensity of the playing field. As you trade your instruments for your sports gear at EVRAA 2026, know that the same rhythm, discipline, and harmony you bring to the stage will be your greatest assets in competition.

Whether you are on the court, the track, or in the pool, remember:
Trust the Tempo: Stay focused and keep your composure when the pressure builds.
Play as One: Bring that incredible orchestral teamwork to your respective sports.
Give it Fortissimo: Put your full strength and passion into every move you make.

​Baybay City is rooting for you! Play hard, stay safe, and show the region that you are champions in every arena.

​Bring home the gold and keep making us proud!